 "Photo: Erin Poppe")
Fruit was flying as Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity hosted its 53rd annual Watermelon Bust.
The event consisted of a series of games involving watermelon and culminates in a relay and crowning of the champions. All participants were new pledges of K-State sororities and each house had two coaches from Lambda Chi. Watermelon Bust is Lambda Chi’s largest philanthropy event of the year and benefits the Flint Hills Breadbasket.
“We’ve already collected about 800 cans and made over $3,300,” said Quentin Kliethermus, sophomore in pre-professional architectural engineering and philanthropy chair of Lambda Chi.
To raise money, the fraternity sold T-shirts to participants and asked that everyone bring a canned good. Kliethermus said Lambda Chi purchased more than 100 watermelons this year to be used for the various games.
The night kicked off with a watermelon-infused game of Twister, where girls had to keep their balance while playing Twister on a board covered in watermelon and chocolate syrup.
“I just downed a Monster and jumped in there,” said Allison Wegner, freshman in pre-law and political science and Sigma Kappa pledge, of her Twister strategy.
Other events included watermelon decorating, an eating contest and watermelon bowling. There was also a watermelon throw where participants had to throw half of a watermelon as far as they could. The final event was a chariot relay.
During the relay the girls had to navigate through an obstacle course, then spin around a bat and tag the next girl. That girl had to dig through a vat of watermelon to find a towel.
Finally, the coaches pulled contestants across the finish line in chariots. There were songs and chants from every sorority throughout the games as houses cheered on their pledges.
“There is a lot of pressure on the new babies to defend the title, but really we’re all just out here to have fun,” said Kirby Thomas, sophomore in environmental design and member of Pi Beta Phi, the defending champions.
Each sorority had a large cheering section representing them, many of which had colorfully decorated shirts made just for Watermelon Bust. This was a necessity because there were several surprise showers of watermelon chunks from every direction and no one was spared.
Pi Beta Phi defended their title well, tying for first place with Gamma Phi Beta.
“Watermelon Bust is so awesome because we raise money and food for the Flint Hills Bread Basket and it’s just a really good time with watermelon,” said Brandon Turner, sophomore in open option and member of Lambda Chi.
Good job Erin Poppe!